Weekly Updates from St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar, NY
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Weekend of October 3-4, 2026

Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

Friday, October 2

10:00am: Funeral for Joyce Grogan
10:30am: Reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures, Conference Room
12:15pm: Mass
1:00pm: Adoration, Confession

Saturday, October 3

9:30am: Funeral for Joseph McCarthy
11:00am: Blessing of the Animals, Peace Pole
12:00pm: Prayer Vigil, Peace Pole
4:00pm: Confessions
5:00pm: Mass

Sunday, October 4

7:30am: Mass
9:00am: OCIA Session, School Cafeteria
10:30am: Mass (Livestream)
10:30am: Children's Liturgy of the Word, Chapel
11:30am: Bagels, Board Games & Blessings, School Gym
11:30am: Hospitality
5:00pm: Mass

A LOST BABY STROLLER!

We found a baby stroller earlier this month near the entrance to the church. We don't know if it was mistakenly left behind or was meant to be a donation. If the stroller belongs to you, please contact the parish office by the end of the day on Friday, October 30. If we don't hear from anyone, we will consider it a donation (Thank you!) and pass it along to Mary's Corner, for a family in need.

St. Thomas Parish,

We’ve been hearing a lot about vineyards in the Gospel passages, and this week continues that same theme. A couple weeks ago was about the pay that the laborers receive by working in the vineyard, last week was about the response we give to the invitation to work in the vineyard, and this week is about the inheritance. Have you ever been to a vineyard? I’ve been to a couple, some in Italy and some in the Finger Lakes region, and the first thing I think of is how vast they are. The vines just seem to go for acres and acres with dozens of rows.

Last week, when Kim and Patty were here to speak to us about their work as Maryknoll Missioners, we heard about how the whole vineyard of the Lord is connected. When one vine hurts, all the vines hurt. People like Kim and Patty have spent their lives laboring in other countries in service of the Gospel to bring the love of Christ to those in very challenging situations. Thank you for your generosity to their cause.

In a similar way, just like there is work to do in countries overseas, there is always work to do right here in our own parish vineyard. And I’d like to ask for your help to breathe new life into an important aspect of our parish structure. The Pastoral Council is a group of people at the parish who serve as an advisory body to the pastor, helping me to listen to the experiences, ideas, concerns, and hopes of parishioners and to discern how we can continue to grow as a parish community. It is an opportunity for people from different ages, backgrounds, experiences, and stages of life to bring their particular gifts and perspectives to the table.

As pastor, I certainly have my own ideas about where I think the Lord is calling us, but I also know that I don’t have all the answers! The vineyard is much bigger than any one person, and the Lord has entrusted all of us with a part in its care. I’d like to develop a Pastoral Council that reflects the richness of our parish community and helps us to listen more carefully to one another and, most importantly, to the Lord.

I’d like to thank Paulot Truchard who is our outgoing Pastoral Council Chairperson. Due to increased constraints on his work schedule, he has decided to step down as Chair. Sara McGraw is our new incoming Chairperson, and she comes with experience as a member of the Pastoral Council, as well as a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. I am grateful for her leadership in this area.

This week’s Evangelist has an article from Bishop Mark about an initiative that he’s beginning called the “Sustainability and Growth Discipline.” He has been talking about this for quite some time and now, he is using this new Discipline to assess the sustainability and growth opportunities for every parish. He has instructed each pastor to compile both information about what is currently going on and what areas can grow and improve in the next five years.

Why do I say all this…this information is due to him on the first day of Spring, 2027. My plan is to work with the staff, trustees, and Pastoral Council to begin the work of this Discipline over the next five months. And here’s where I need your help.

There are seats open on the Pastoral Council that need to be filled to represent the cross-section of our parishioners. We will have two high school students on the Council. We have people on the Council who have been parishioners for decades, and their perspective is very important. I’m now looking for people to represent our young adults, our parents, our homebound, our new-to-the-faith parishioners, school families, etc. I’m looking for people who are satisfied with the way things are going and people who have some thoughts about how to adjust and improve.

I’m confident that the Holy Spirit is at work in each person here, and some of you will feel that gentle (or sometimes not-so-gentle) nudge of the Lord inviting you to serve in this way. Your voices and perspectives matter a lot to me because they matter a lot to God, and this is a time to strengthen the role of the Pastoral Council at the parish.

If you are interested in joining, or you would like to nominate someone who you think would be an asset to the Council, please email Sara McGraw at pastoralcouncil@stthomas-church.org. And/or, anyone is welcome to the Discernment and Information Evening on Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00pm in the Gathering Hall.

Peace to you,
Fr. Matt

October 3-4 Bulletin

Monday Message September 28

This Weekend's Readings

St. Thomas Calendar

Next Week:

Monday, October 5

7:30am: Mass
8:00am: Rosary
4:00pm: Bereavement Support Group, Conference Room

Tuesday, October 6

10:00am: Funeral for Ann Byer
11:30am: Confession
12:15pm: Mass
3:00pm: Tuesday Drive, Gathering Hall

Wednesday, October 7

11:00am: Rosary, Mary Chapel
7:00pm: Choir Rehearsal, Church
7:00pm: Book Club, Gathering Hall
7:00pm: 518 Frassati, Conference Room

Thursday, October 8

7:30am: Mass
8:00am: Rosary
10:30am: Catholic Moms Group, Lower Lounge

Friday, October 9

10:30am: Reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures, Conference Room
12:15pm: Mass
1:00pm: Adoration, Confession

Saturday, October 10

4:00pm: Confessions
5:00pm: Mass

Sunday, October 11

7:30am: Mass
9:00am: OCIA Session, Conference Room
10:00am: Children's Rosary, Chapel
10:30am: Mass
10:30am: Children's Liturgy of the Word, Chapel
11:30am: Hospitality
5:00pm: Mass
6:00pm: Baptism Prep Class, Office

DON'T FORGET TO PURCHASE YOUR GALA TICKETS BEFORE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5!

Purchase your Tickets!

This Year’s Guests of Honor: Bob & Pat Ricchiuti!

We are incredibly grateful for Bob and Pat’s many years of service and their continued dedication to our Parish and School. Their commitment, generosity, and countless contributions have helped make our community stronger, and we are so excited to have the opportunity to honor them for all they have done!

Help Us Light the Way for St. Thomas School!

The 5th Annual St. Thomas the Apostle School Gala is just around the corner on Friday, October 16, and we are so grateful for the incredible support of our parish and school community!

As we put the finishing touches on this special evening, any last-minute donations are greatly appreciated! We are still welcoming:
Live & Silent Auction Donations
Gift cards, merchandise, services, experiences, event tickets, and other items are all greatly appreciated!
Event Sponsorships
Sponsorship opportunities are still available for businesses, families, and individuals who would like to help support our school.

Every donation makes a difference and helps us provide meaningful opportunities and programs for the students of St. Thomas the Apostle School.
Interested in helping or have a potential donation or connection to share?
Contact Lucy Rubino at lrubino@stthomas-school.org
518-439-5573
Thank you for helping us Light the Way for our students!

Ladies of Charity Annual Coat Collection!

With the cooler weather arriving we are reminded that many among us find it difficult to obtain a warm winter coat. We ask that you please go through your closets to find unneeded coats, jackets and snow pants. We need both adult and children’s sizes. Please leave your items in the box in the Gathering Hall, from Saturday, October 3 through Saturday, Oct. 17. The Gathering Hall is open during the week for your donations. Many families are supported by your generosity and, on behalf of the Ladies of Charity, we thank you! Any questions, please call Sandie Flynn, (518)221-1027.

RESPECT LIFE MONTH TUESDAY DRIVES!

This Tuesday Oct. 6, 3pm-4pm is for Christ Child Society who provide layettes to parents in need. We are collecting NEW & UNOPENED ITEMS ONLY: infant board books, size1 diapers, socks or booties, onesies and sleepers in size 3 or 6 mos. Receiving blankets, bath towels and washcloths, handmade afghans or quilts (32” by 40, or 40 by 40), and handmade sweaters and hats. God bless you for supporting LIFE!

St. Thomas Reads Book Club!

This Wednesday, October 7 from 7-8:30 PM in the Gathering Hall!

The book for this meeting is Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, by Brant Pitre!

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and
ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus’ purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, “This is my body... This is my blood”? Inspiring and informative, [this] is a groundbreaking work that is sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus’ presence in “the breaking of the bread.” (description from the publisher’s website)

Respect Life Apostolate
Essay Contest

The Respect Life Apostolate invites students,
Grades 9-12, who attend St. Thomas parish to participate in an essay contest reflecting the value of every human life.

More Information!

"SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP" IS BACK

Saturday, November 7
10am - 4pm
42 Adams Place, Delmar, NY 12054

We can’t wait to see you there! Start your holiday shopping early! There will also be a bake sale and bucket raffle with beautiful items donated by our vendors! This is a free event and is a fundraiser for our school, so spend a part of your day with us and “Shop ‘Til You Drop!”